Using Cross-Sector Collaboration to Maximize Your Impact with Jennifer Hutchins

The Prosperous Nonprofit

If you’re looking for ways to make a massive, lasting impact with your nonprofit, then this episode is for you. I sat down with special guest, Jennifer Hutchins Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits and collaboration expert. She spoke on the importance of collaborating across different sectors and how it has transformed nonprofit organizations. She dove into examples of strong collaborations and how organizations are thriving in a post-COVID world. This is a great opportunity to learn strategies for maximizing your organization’s impact.

About Jennifer

Since July 2016, Jennifer Hutchins has been the Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits, the state’s leading organization for Maine’s charitable nonprofit sector with more than 1,000 members from all 16 counties. She serves on the boards of the National Council of Nonprofits and the Maine Philanthropy Center and the advisory boards of the USM Muskie School of Public Service and the Foundation for Portland (ME) Public Schools.

Prior to joining MANP, she was Executive Director of Creative Portland, where she led the City of Portland’s efforts to strengthen the creative economy. Jennifer also served as Director of Communications and External Affairs at the USM Muskie School of Public Service for nine years and as Marketing Director at Portland Stage Company from 1995-2000. After graduating from college, she worked for nonprofit and public institutions in Washington D.C., and France.

In May 2020, Jennifer was selected to serve on Governor Mills’ Economic Recovery Committee, tasked with putting forth recommendations to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s economy. Jennifer holds a master’s in public policy and management and lives in Portland with her husband and two daughters.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of cross-sector collaboration and strategies to get started including:

• The impact of cross-sector collaboration (7:45)

• Examples of strong collaborations (13:25)

• Trends in the nonprofit sector (24:20)

• How organizations are thriving in a post-COVID world (30:35)

• Benefits of joining a state nonprofit association (36:50)

Teasers

“What we know about impactful collaboration is it takes people who have skills and the time, and space to be able to develop a really sophisticated partnership.”

“Collaboration takes on many, many different forms. We need to really think through how we're looking at our business model. How can we be more entrepreneurial? How can we save resources?”

“The thriving nonprofits are the ones that are taking a hard look at compensation and paying attention to how they're being competitive in the marketplace with the types of people that they want to attract to their nonprofits. They are looking at their compensation philosophies. They're looking at their benefits.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/

The Maine Association of Nonprofits Website: https://www.nonprofitmaine.org/support-us

Follow the Maine Association of Nonprofits on Instagram: @mainenonprofits

Connect with the Maine Association of Nonprofits on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mainenonprofits/

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/cross-sector-collaboration

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing!